Essentials
- City
- Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- 400,000
- Internet Speed
- 110 Mbps (SoftBank Hikari/NTT Flets are standard)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY, 1 EUR ≈ 162 JPY. Local banks: Juroku Bank, Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Highly rated, sourced from Nagara River subsoil water)
- Power
- 100V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- UQ Mobile, Rakuten Mobile (available at Bic Camera Nagoya nearby or online)
- Banking for Expats
- Sony Bank (Open English app), Japan Post Bank (JP Bank), Revolut
- Accommodation
- Gifu Comfort Hotel (Monthly rates), Private Apartments via Suumo
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; PayPay is dominant, Suica/IC cards widely accepted in shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (approx. ¥90,000 - ¥150,000/month), Monthly Mansion Gifu
- Budget Accommodation
- Gifu Airy Guesthouse (¥3,500/night), Hotel Resol Gifu (¥6,500/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Nagaramachi (Riverside district near Mt. Kinka and Gifu Castle)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kano or Yanagase (Walking distance to JR Gifu Station and coworking hubs)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Neo-working Gifu (¥1,100/day, near Hashima-Gifu station)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Starbucks Coffee Gifu City Tower 43 (High-speed Wi-Fi, window desks with city views)
- Networking Events
- Gifu Startup Hub events (Monthly meetups for entrepreneurs at Dream Core)
- Social Events for Expats
- Gifu International Center (GIC) Japanese conversation lunches
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Go App, Uber (Limited to taxis), JapanTaxi
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Gifu City Rent-a-Cycle (¥310 per day at JR Gifu Station Terminal)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Utsumi Beach, Minamichita (Approx. 90 mins via Meitetsu train)
- Top Regional Airline
- StarFlyer (Operating from Chubu Centrair Airport)
- Top International Airline
- ANA, Japan Airlines (JAL) via Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO)
- Highway Access
- Meishin Expressway and Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway (Gifu-Kakamigahara IC)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- JR Gifu Station and Meitetsu Gifu Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Ayuca IC Card (Gifu Bus), Central Japan Area Pass (JR West)
- Regional Travel
- JR Tokaido Line to Nagoya (20 mins, ¥470), Meitetsu Limited Express
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Gifu University Hospital (English support available, Yanagido district)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Studio Shanti Gifu (¥2,500 per drop-in class, Yanagase)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness Gifu North (¥7,480/month, 24/7 access)
- Laundry Services
- Pierrot Laundry (Coin laundry chain, approx. ¥1,000 for wash/dry)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats Japan, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hida Beef (Hida-gyu) and Keichan Chicken (Miso-marinated chicken)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Natural Cafe & Shop Kururu (Vegetable-forward Japanese platters)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Tamaiya Honpo (Ayu-gashi sweets), Chaya Shinsen (Matcha parfaits)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Valor Supermarket, Don Quijote UNY Gifu
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten, Mercari (for used gear)
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super, Coop Gifu
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Tamamiya-cho (Dense area of Izakayas and craft beer bars)
- Local Brewery
- Gifu Beer (Craft beer brewery with a taproom near the station)
- Wine Bars
- Wine Bar K (Selected Japanese and French wines, near Meitetsu Gifu)
- Street Food Stalls
- Nagaramachi Morning Market (Seasonal river fish/grilled ayu)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bierhall Gifu (German style), Maharaja Gifu (Indian/Nepalese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Gifu Castle (atop Mt. Kinka), Great Buddha of Gifu (Shoho-ji)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu (Large collection of Odilon Redon)
- Historical Sites
- Kawaramachi District (Preserved timber-framed merchant houses)
- Religious Sites
- Inaba Shrine (Shinto), Zenko-ji Temple
- Annual Events
- Ukai (Cormorant Fishing) on the Nagara River (May to October)
- Cultural Districts
- Yanagase Shingai (Retro shopping arcade district)
- Theater Venues
- Salamanca Hall (Organ and classical music venue)
- Local Markets
- Gifu City Central Wholesaler Market (Fresh produce and seafood)
- Music Scene
- Gifu Club Roots (Live local indie and rock bands)
- Street Art
- Nobunaga Golden Statue (JR Gifu Station square)
- Cooking Classes
- Gifu City Women’s Center (Occasional traditional Japanese cooking workshops)
- Art Galleries
- Gallery Gen (Local pottery and contemporary art)
- Historic Buildings
- Gifu City Hall (Old Building) and Media Cosmos (Architecture by Toyo Ito)
- Local Heritage
- Mino Washi Paper craftsmanship (UNESCO Heritage)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mt. Kinka (Hiking trails through primeval forest)
- National Parks Nearby
- Hakusan National Park (approx. 2 hours north)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Nagara River cycling road (Flat, paved path along the riverbanks)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mt. Kinka Ropeway Observation Deck (Panoramic view of the Nobi Plain)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Chidori-bashi bridge area on the Nagara River
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Riverbank areas near Nagara Bridge (specific designated zones only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko), Sagawa Express
- Tech Repair Services
- PC Depot Gifu (Computer and smartphone hardware repair)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Gifu City Welfare Center (Public tables available for small fees)
- Language Classes
- Gifu City International Exchange Association (Low-cost Japanese lessons)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Gifu Media Cosmos (Stunning architecture, free high-speed Wi-Fi, quiet zones)
- Community Centers
- Heartful Square G (Located inside JR Gifu Station)
- Gaming Lounges
- NetCafe Comic Buster Gifu (Private booths with PC/Internet access)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Concorde Gifu (Pachinko/Slot parlor - gambling is restricted to these types)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥250,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥7,500,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥150,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥4,500,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥350,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥17,500,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥200,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥10,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥400,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ¥32,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥250,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ¥20,000,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30.6% (Effective combined national and local tax rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% (Standard rate for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for permanent residents; non-permanent residents taxed on Japan-sourced income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (National) + 10% (Local Resident Tax)
- VAT
- 10% (Standard), 8% (Food/Groceries excluding alcohol)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applies if foreign subsidiary tax rate is below 20%
- Property Tax
- 1.4% (Fixed Asset Tax) + 0.3% (City Planning Tax)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 3-4% (Real Estate Acquisition Tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Japan Digital Nomad Visa (up to 6 months) allows 0% local income tax for those earning over ¥10M annually